OK, who ar your favourite screen vampires? Who makes the best film or tv vamps?
From monster-type vamps like Nosferatu, to the suave, cloaked noblemen like Bela Lugosi's or Christopher Lee's "Dracula", many have been eye-catching and mesmeric in their undead roles. Gary Oldman's Count looked positively bizarre at times, and yet he draws you in and still manages to be tragically sexy by the end.
Of course, things have moved on since the Victorian gentleman idea of a vampire. Now we have undead bikers, teenagers, punks, rockstars. I've confessed before to a soft spot for Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and for the punkish Spike from the same show. And Tom Cruise as the irrepressible Vampire Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. I know there are many fans of The Vampire Diaries and True Blood...
And let's not forget the comedy vamps! Who remembers George Hamilton in Love at First Bite? ("For you, never ze quickie. Always ze longie.":) ). And vampiresses, like Countess Dracula and the Queen of the Damned, to say nothing about Drusilla from Buffy (for whom my husband has an inexplicable penchant!)
Anwyay, that's a few to be thinking about! (Sorry, by the way, for the slightly odd arrangements of photos - I couldn't make Blogger put them where I wanted them!) Let's hear your favourites - heroic and villainous!
My fascination with Vampires began at an early age. Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins on "Dark Shadows" started it. Bram Stoker's "Dracula" fueled it. Frank Langella's superbly sensual "Dracula" immortalized it. David Boreanaz's sweet, conflicted "Angel" renewed it.
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Great choices, Virginia! Though I don't think I know "Dark Shadows" - I've seen it mentioned before... Must investigate further :)
ReplyDeleteMarie
Where's Gerry??? He's the best and sexiest vampire...oh lala!!!
ReplyDeleteValerie
in Germany
I really liked Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000. Yummy! Also liked Alex O'Loughlin in the tv show Moonlight.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Valerie :(. Ran out of photo space! Good addition, though... And I see Annalisa agrees - hello, Annalisa!
ReplyDeleteMarie
I only saw a few episodes but I liked Henry from Blood Ties based on the Tanya Huff novels. I have heard that Dark Shadows is being redone this year but I do not know for which station.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lindseye - don't know either of these, but I'll look out for them!
ReplyDeleteMarie
Dark Shadows was a soap back in the sixties on ABC that featured a variety of paranormals including vampire, Barnabas Collins. It was remade in the early 90s and is being made into a film version by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins.
ReplyDeleteMy fave vampire is Frank Langella as Dracula and Alexander Skarsgard as Eric Northman. NICE! v--v
I have fond memories of Christopher Lee in a series of Dracula movies. One of public TV stations used to have a Sunday horror afternoon - Dracula followed by Japanese monster movies. Their means of reviving Dracula for each movie got crazier each time. Instant Dracula, add water and stir.
ReplyDeleteThanks you, Cautionary Tale! I'll look forward to the Johnny Depp version, since I've missed the rest :). Good favourite vamps too!
ReplyDeleteLOL Carol, you're so right about the later Christophner Lee Dracula films - they did get more and more ridiculous, but like you, I have a soft spot for them :).
Marie